ALOR SETAR, 9 Feb 2009: Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has confirmed that Bukit Selambau assemblyperson V Arumugam has resigned as the elected representative for the constituency and also as a state executive councillor.
He said he received Arumugam’s resignation letter dated 8 Feb at 5pm today and it was attested by a Commissioner of Oaths.
“I regret to announce that he (Arumugam) has resigned as Bukit Selambau assemblyperson and also state executive councillor with immediate effect,” he told a press conference at his official residence, Seri Mentaloon, here.
Azizan said a copy of the resignation letter had been forwarded to Kedah state assembly speaker Dr Abd Isa Ismail.
Dr Abd Isa, state secretary Datuk Paduka Syed Unan Mashri Syed Abdullah Shahbudin and Kedah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairperson Ahmad Kassim were also present at the press conference.
Azizan said, Arumugam, through a representative, had sent two letters, one stating his resignation as assemblyperson to the speaker and the other to him to inform that he was stepping down from both posts.
“I have informed Tuanku (Sultan Kedah Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah) and presented the letters from Arumugam,” he said, adding that the speaker would notify the Election Commission (EC) forthwith to hold a by-election for the constituency.
Asked about the reasons for Arumugam’s resignation, Azizan said among the contents of the letter, Arumugam had said he no longer could stand threats he had been receiving from certain parties besides alleged attempts from people claiming to represent the Barisan Nasional (BN) who offered him up to RM5 million to cross over to the coalition.
“I respect his stand in rejecting the RM 5 million offer and according to the letter, he (Arumugam) had been receiving threats since March 2008 and, fearing for his and his family’s safety, he took the decision to resign,” he said.
Arumugam, 55, a retired Royal Malaysia Airforce mechanic, contested in the 12th general election last year as an Independent candidate.
He won the Bukit Selambau seat, defeating BN candidate S Krishnan with a majority of 7,695 votes.
He emerged at the last minute as the independent candidate when the Returning Officer rejected the nomination papers of Saiful Izham Ramli of PKR on technical grounds.
Arumugam later joined the PKR and was appointed a state executive council member.
Arumugam, who was the state exco for domestic trade, Siamese and Indian Community Affairs, Unity and Estate Workers, had recently alleged that he had been a victim of criminal intimidation to party hop from PKR to BN.
With Arumugam’s resignation, a by-election is set to be called in Bukit Selambau within the next 60 days. A by-election is also expected to be called in Bukit Gantang, Perak after its PAS member of parliament Roslan Shaharum passed away today of a heart attack. — Bernama
Mitra Themis says
Oh God! don’t tell me this is the start of another circus, with various clowns taking centerstage and the audience being hoodwinked out of their money.